Bad Girl Reputation (Avalon Bay #2)(45)

“They grow up so fast.”

Once again, I’m practically bursting with pride. I don’t know if Riley is a quick study or if I’m an extraordinary mentor, but I think it’s safe to say he’s conquered his confidence problem. Although the superpower persuasion of Gen’s spectacular rack might have had something to do with it. Kid’s been staring so hard I’m worried I might have to take him home cross-eyed.

“I might look young,” he tells her. “But I assure you I’m an old soul.”

“Oh my God.” Gen playfully mashes his face with her palm. “Where’d you find this kid, Evan?”

“I’m his Big Brother.”

She scoffs at me, incredulous. “No, seriously. This is Mackenzie’s little brother or something, right?”

“Really. I’m giving back to my community.”

“Huh.”

I’m not sure what to make of her response, but at least she’s not telling me to get lost again.

When we come up on Mac’s hotel, Gen pauses near the new white-and-green sign with the elegantly scrawled words The Beacon Hotel. Sipping her smoothie, she examines the building. There isn’t much going on outside anymore, as far as the renovation goes. The fa?ade is all patched up and painted. Most of the work left to do is on the inside. Decorating, installing the mirrors and fixtures, all that tedious stuff. Mac’s been getting more anal by the minute about every microscopic detail.

“I’ve always loved this place,” Gen says to no one in particular.

“Is it open yet?” Riley asks curiously.

I shake my head. “Soon. Couple months, I think.”

“The woman who owned this place would come to the stone yard sometimes,” Gen says, a faraway note in her voice. “She’d hire Dad to do seasonal landscaping. There was something so glamorous about her, even in a place like that. She’d be walking through stone dust and mulch looking like a million bucks. I used to tell my folks I was going to work here someday.”

“Mac’s hiring,” I tell her.

Gen cocks her head at me. “What, seriously?”

“Yeah. Cooper’s been giving her a hard time about needing to hurry up and pick some people, or she’ll never open.” Though I can’t see her eyes, I feel the intensity of Gen’s interest in the way she presses her lips together. “I could put in a good word, if you’re interested.”

She hesitates for a beat. Then she nods slowly. “Yeah. Yes. I’d actually really appreciate that. If it’s not too much of a thing.”

“No sweat.” Hell, I’m just happy she’s letting me do this for her, rather than making it a whole argument about fending for herself or me getting too involved in her life. “It’s done.” At that, though, it really is time I bring Riley back to the library. I was warned at least four times that tardiness is frowned upon. “Listen, we gotta go, but I’ll talk to Mac and let you know how it goes. Cool?”

“Cool. Thanks again.”

She says goodbye to Riley, and we shuffle through an awkward hug that still gets my blood rushing like I haven’t touched a woman in months. Something about the smell of sunscreen and her flowery shampoo makes me all stupid, and I can’t walk straight. The haze lingers as we walk off in different directions.

Riley and I make it five yards away before something stops me. A nagging sense of money left on the table. This was the longest conversation Gen and I have had in weeks, and I’m just letting her leave? What the hell is wrong with me?

“Give me a sec,” I tell Riley. Then I dart off, jogging after Genevieve. “Hey. Fred. Wait up.”

She stops, turning to face me. “What’s up?”

I let out a hurried breath. “No bullshit, I took what you said seriously. I’m getting my act together.”

A groove digs into her forehead. “Is that what this Big Brothers thing is all about?”

“Sort of. I’m reformed,” I say earnestly. “And I can prove it to you.”

“How’s that?”

“I intend to court you.”

Gen bites back a laugh, looking away. “Evan.”

“I mean it. I’m going to court you. All gentlemanly and shit.”

“Is this your latest creative attempt to get me naked?”

I haven’t heard a no yet, so I take it as a good sign. “If we do this, sex is off the table. I’m going to prove to you I’ve changed. Woo you the old-fashioned way.”

“Woo me,” she echoes.

“Woo you,” I confirm.

Twisting her lips as she studies me, Gen considers my offer. Every second she’s silent, I know the idea is finding root in her brain. Because she wants me to give her an excuse, to make it okay to say yes. I know her. Better, I know us. There’s no world in which she can stay away from me. No more than I can tolerate distance from her. Truth is, we’ve never had any resistance to each other, no chance of severing the immutable connection that always pulls us back together. And because I can’t lie to her, she knows when I’m sincere.

“You should know,” Gen says, “you wouldn’t be my only suitor.”

I narrow my eyes. “Baby cop?”

She chides me with a grimace. “Harrison asked me out on another date, and I said yes. You’ve got some competition.”